Free Crazy in Love by Lani Diane Rich Page A

shrugged innocently. “I have no idea. I think it’s just a get-to-know-you thing. She seemed really interested in meeting the staff. Tell everyone to bring all their questions.”
    She leaned forward, her chin in her hand. “Really? Because everyone’s kinda freaked out about a sale. Do you think she’s going to sell? Because I hear that the big chains all come in and cut salaries and then fire everyone who doesn’t quit.”
    “ Annabelle, come on. That’s ridiculous. You and I both know that big chains disembowel everyone and stick the heads on pikes to stake at the four corners of the village.”
    Annabelle giggled and rolled her eyes. “Shut up.”
    “ Can’t. I have one more favor to ask you.”
    “ What do you need?”
    “ Let that trained monkey out of its cage and block out a room for me.”
    Annabelle huffed and reached for her mouse, waking the screensaver on the computer, then glanced up at Jake. “Look away.”
    Jake turned his eyes ceilingward as Annabelle tapped in the password. “I’m personally offended that you don’t trust me.”
    “ Oh, don’t take it personally. It’s just that it took me a long time to find all that money last time. Okay. You can look now.”
    He lowered his eyes and leaned over the counter, watching her. “You know, it would be a lot easier if you’d just show the rest of us how to work the system.”
    “ Mmm, maybe,” she said, tapping her way into the computer. For someone so… well, dim , she sure did type like lightning. “So, you need a room blocked out? For how long?”
    “ I don’t know. Long as you can give me. It’s a just-in-case thing.”
    Annabelle raised her eyebrows. “Planning on entertaining a lady friend?”
    Jake shrugged. “I just think it’s a good idea to have it around. In case someone’s too drunk to drive home.” Or thinks she’s being haunted by her dead aunt. “Put the key in the bar safe for me?”
    She nodded. “No problem.”
    “ All right. I’m gonna go home and get a little sleep before the big meeting.” He tapped the desk twice in goodbye and turned toward the front door.
    “ Wait, Jake!” Annabelle jumped up from her seat and hung over the front desk.
    Jake turned again. “Yeah?”
    “ The niece. You didn’t tell me what she’s like.”
    Jake took a second to contemplate. What is Flynn Daly like?
    “ She’s like a Disney heroine after a fifth of scotch,” he said, then escaped into the daylight.

 
     
    Five
     
     
    Flynn tucked the last of the cow creamers into the shoebox she’d found in the back of the closet, and then picked at the ragged edge on the roll of duct tape she’d found under the sink. Even though she knew, in her heart, that she had dreamed putting them away the day before, she saw no reason to take chances now. This time, those damn cows were staying put. After she’d attached enough duct tape to them to secure them for the rest of their unnatural lives, she tucked the shoe box into the very back of the front closet, stood up, and shut the door.
    There, she thought, and stuck the duct tape on the shelf as a reminder to anyone who might need reminding of just who was embodied here.
    She checked her watch. It was getting close to noon. She had planned to go to the front desk and retrieve the box of stuff Freya ’d ordered for her, but the fact was, she didn’t really want it. Not enough to deal with two dozen Jake Tuckers, all there haranguing her about selling the inn. She knew she’d have to go down eventually, be a “presence” or whatever, but she wanted to get it clear in her head exactly what she would say.
    It doesn’ t matter what you say, Freya’s voice played in her head. What matters is that they see you as an authority figure. Don’t get friendly, don’t get personal. Just walk around like you own the place and tell them only what they need to know. They’ll all fall in line.
    At the time, it had seemed like sound advice.
    Now, it seemed not specific enough. Did her